Women leaders are reshaping India’s fashion retail landscape with bold innovation, strategic foresight, and a deep understanding of evolving consumer needs. Across segments—from luxury and fast fashion to D2C—these trailblazers are championing growth, sustainability, and inclusivity, while leading the charge in brand storytelling and digital evolution.
Overcoming challenges such as gender biases and work-life dynamics, they continue to raise the bar and elevate India’s presence on the global fashion map. This special feature celebrates dynamic women who have reimagined business strategies, introduced game-changing innovations, and driven their brands to new heights.
In this edition, we spotlight Shifali Singla, Vice President – Product & SCM at Lacoste India, a forward-thinking leader who is transforming retail through innovation, strategic precision, and an unyielding passion for fashion.
With a deep passion for fashion and consumer behavior, Shifali Singla has built an impressive two-decade career in retail, mastering Buying & Merchandising, Retail Planning, Visual Merchandising, and Supply Chain Management.
As Vice President – Product & SCM, she drives innovative product strategies, optimises inventory ecosystems, and spearheads end-to-end supply chain transformation to enhance market competitiveness.
Shifali integrates data-driven insights with creativity, ensuring seamless brand experiences, dynamic pricing strategies, and high-impact seasonal assortments.
A postgraduate in Garment Manufacturing Technology from NIFT Gandhinagar, she continues to shape the retail landscape with her strategic vision and commercial acumen.
Challenges & Triumphs in Leadership
Shifali believes that leadership challenges are no longer defined by gender in today’s professional landscape. Success is determined by expertise, results, and commitment to continuous learning. She focuses on delivering impactful outcomes, achieving business goals, and constantly evolving to stay ahead, allowing her work to speak for itself.
Key Strengths & Areas for Growth
- Strengths: Strategic Vision & Data-Driven Decision Making; Cross-Functional Leadership; Agility & Consumer-Centric Approach
- Area of Improvement: Enhancing supply chain to keep pace with fast-changing market demands
Game-Changing Decisions for Brand
One of the most impactful strategic initiatives that Shifali led was the optimisation of the assortment architecture, aligning it with country-specific demand dynamics and macroeconomic conditions. By leveraging advanced data analytics, market intelligence and predictive forecasting, she redefined product mix strategies, ensuring that each market received highly curated, demand-driven assortments.
Career Aspirations & Future Goals
To grow in the professional journey by embracing learning, innovation and impactful leadership.
Essential Skills for Success
- Strong instinct for fashion
- In-depth knowledge
- Long-term partnerships with the stakeholders
Top 3 Emerging Trends & Technologies Shaping Retail
- Seamless quick and personalised shopping experiences
- Sustainable & responsible fashion
- Competitive & Agile assortment strategies
Advice for Aspiring Women Leaders
Stay focused, keep learning, and let your work speak for itself. Leadership is built on expertise and not on external validation. Embrace challenges as opportunities, take calculated risks and always invest in your personal growth.
Biggest Role Model & Why
Rajesh Jain, MD and CEO of Lacoste India, for his leadership approach, problem-solving mindset, optimistic outlook and ability to identify opportunities.
Life Mantra
Learning Never Stops.
